Register reveals Archer's forecourt interest

An updated register of Lords' interests was published today - revealing that the disgraced peer Lord Archer has shares in a second-hand car dealership and that Lord Black of Crossharbour, the owner of the Daily Telegraph, is a member of the secretive Bilderberg organisation.

Lord Wakeham, the former chairman of the press complaints commission, makes no mention of his role on the audit committee of the collapsed Enron organisation, although he does list his vice-chairmanship of Wessex Water, formerly owned by Enron.

And the controversial former Conservative party treasurer, Lord Ashcroft, whose banking interests are based in Belize, is listed as a trustee of the Crimestoppers organisation.

The register has been published since 1995, although it is only since a new code of conduct was approved last year that peers are mandated to include "all relevant interests". Until then, peers were permitted to judge for themselves what declarations "may affect the public perception of the way in which they discharge their parliamentary duties".

Further items of interest:

· Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare lists "rented urban property in London, Tyne & Wear, Northshields, Telford and Workington", shareholdings in a golf centre company and ownership of two art dealers among his interests.· The former Liberal Democrat leader, Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, is president of the Fitness Industry Association.· Lord Birt, who is employed by the prime minister's "forward strategy unit" to carry out "blue skies thinking" on transport, lists himself as "strategy adviser to the prime minister".· Conrad Black, the owner of the Daily Telegraph and Spectator magazine, who was ennobled as Lord Black of Crossharbour on October 31 last year, is a director of 10 companies, in addition to working for 11 voluntary organisations, including the Nixon centre in Washington.· Lord Wakeham, who stepped down as director of the press complaints commission following the collapse of Enron, is the director or chairman of eight companies.· Baroness Thatcher, who announced her retirement from public life earlier this year, has no renumerated posts, but chairs the advisory body of the Institute of United States Studies, as well as presiding over the Thatcher foundation.· Baroness Boothroyd, the former speaker, has also refused to capitalise on her fame and popularity, only listing an unrenumerated two-week lectureship on a cruise line.· The planning minister, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, lists "homes in London and Nottinghamshire, joint ownership (with wife) of two flats in London occupied by an employee and a member of wife's family (from whom rent is received). Also co-ownership of house inhabited by father". · The Labour ex-leader of the Lords, Baroness Jay, lists three directorships and a second holiday home in County Cork, Eire, which she regularly lets for periods of up to two months a year. · Liberal Democrat Lord Razzall declares 21 directorships and a house in Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, while Lord Rea (Labour) lists "12 acres of rough forest (surrounding a holiday home not let commercially) in Cumbria".